Who let the dogs out

Ptyalism is the term used to describe excessive drooling. Animals might have increased salivation associated with certain stimuli, for <g data-gr-id="87">example</g> the smell of food, but when its onset is sudden and it 

persists, it is usually associated with illness or injury.

There <g data-gr-id="103">are</g> a whole host of possible causes why the cat might be drooling excessively. For eg: Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums); Dental disease; Tongue injury; Mouth ulcer; Oral or <g data-gr-id="104">oesophageal</g> tumour; Nausea and others. You need to take your cat to the vet for a thorough examination, and normally this will include just the oral cavity unless this fails to find the solution. In the meantime, look out for vomiting, loss of appetite or difficulty breathing. Any of these symptoms might suggest there are complications that require immediate attention.

This type of foaming at <g data-gr-id="111">mouth</g> is quite common and is normally a result of the dog’s state of mind rather than what they are playing with. Some dogs show this phenomenon when excited, scared, or stressed. Others show it as a sign of heat stroke from lots of running around. In most <g data-gr-id="109">cases</g> it disappears when the inducing element stops and is nothing to be concerned about. If however your dog shows these symptoms in one 

particular field or location then it could be something more obscure, such as a reaction to a specific 

vegetation or smell.

A dog’s feces are a remarkable insight into the general overall health of a dog. All dog owners should familiarise themselves with the “normal” appearance of their dog’s feces and should inspect them regularly for any unusual features. The presence of blood or mucus, a substantial change in consistency, or unusual colour can all indicate that the dog may be unwell. However, the appearance of your dog’s stools is also subject to his diet and any medication he is on.

Any abrupt change in diet or various prescription drugs can radically change the appearance of a dog’s feces. If your dog has recently been put on a new medication, consult with your vet or the manufacturer as to the possible side effects and if you should discontinue use. White, chalky stools are often an indication of a high level of calcium in the diet, such as eating bones or having a wholly raw diet. In these cases, the white feces are not a cause for concern. If you are not sure, you can adjust his diet and see if this helps solve the problem. If you are sure that your dog’s diet or medication is not responsible, it is worth having your dog thoroughly examined by a vet to rule out any underlying health problems. <g data-gr-id="119">Feces</g> do not normally turn white in response to a worm infection – normally dog owners will notice a little blood or mucus instead - but you can give your dog an affordable over-the-counter worming treatment to be sure.

Eclampsia is the correct term even though this aberration in blood calcium levels is often called milk fever.  These patients often have a high temperature (104 or higher) from fighting an infection.  There will also be continuous muscle tremors and spasms, excitement and panting. This is a very serious problem and has to be considered an emergency so take the dog to a vet at once no matter what the time is. Most commonly seen in small to mid-sized bitches a few weeks after whelping, this condition should be watched for closely. The most common signs are muscle tremors, restlessness, panting, incoordination, body temperature as high as 106 and seizures. The causes are:

1. Imbalanced Nutrition

2. Low blood levels of <g data-gr-id="99">albumen</g>: Dietary protein deficiency or excessive loss from the body of albumen (which happens in some kidney diseases) will cause low levels of calcium in the circulation. 

3. Excessive milk production: When pups require large amounts of milk (10 to 30 days <g data-gr-id="100">post whelping</g>) the bitch’s ability to maintain proper amounts of calcium in her blood stream becomes stressed. Milk 

production has priority over the blood stream for calcium.

Common side effects of vaccination include

These symptoms usually clear up themselves however if the nasal discharge thickens or becomes greenish or yellowish, it may be a sign of a bacterial infection. This may require antibiotic medication. However, you need to be careful about an anaphylactic attack. In case of an attack, your dog must be immediately taken to a vet. Often the reaction occurs in the vet clinic (sometimes within seconds of vaccination) or soon after the animal has left the clinic, although it can take up to 24 hours to manifest (so you should keep a close eye on the animal at home). The vet will usually rush the dog straight out to a treatment room, where it will receive oxygen, IV fluids, <g data-gr-id="105">anti-histamines</g>, adrenaline, anti-inflammatories and sometimes other drugs to aid in the treating of low blood pressure. Never give more than one vaccine at a time. I know  of dogs that have died after getting more than one.